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The 60th edition of the FNB u18 Craven Week will kick off on Monday on the main field of Middleburg High School in Mpumalanga.

Catch all the action live on SuperSport Schools (www.supersportschools.com).

The teams: 

Blue Bulls: 15 Junade Pasensie (Garsfontein), 14 Thabiso Simelane (St Alban’s College), 13 Leskin Samuels (Menlopark), 12 Dylan Stumke (Menlopark), 11 Junaide Stuart (Garsfontein), 10 Ruben Groenewald (Affies – captain), 9 Zirk Meyer (Affies), 8 Stefan McDonald (Affies), 7 Elwin Janse van Vuuren (Affies), 6 Luan Potgieter (Affies), 5 Christiaan de Wet (Affies), 4 Daniel Malakiya (HeronBridge College), 3 Luan van den Berg (Garsfontein), 2 Bauke Swart (Affies), 1 Jeffrey Singo (Pretoria Boys’ High). Replacements: 16 Okuhle Hini (Overkruin), 17 Roal Kruger (Affies), 18 Deon Botes (Affies), 19 Akin Akingbola (Pretoria Boys’ High), 20 Thabiso Mbembele (St Alban’s College), 21 Lamond Baaitjies (Affies), 22 Drewyn Baron (Garsfontein), 24 Justin Julies (Zwartkop).

10 Affies | 4 Garsfontein | 2 St Alban’s College | 2 Menlopark | 2 Pretoria Boys’ High | 1 Overkruin | 1 HeronBridge College | 1 Zwartkop

Boland: 15 Harold de Silva (Bella Vista), 14 JT Adams (Hopefield), 13 Jeraldo Davids (Langeberg Secondary), 12 Johan van der Walt (Hermanus), 11 Darren Makeza (HTS Drostdy), 10 Zion Rabie (Weston Secondary), 9 Brayden Joseph (Robertson), 8 Joshua Steenkamp (Porterville), 7 Gerhard Goosen (Charlie Hofmeyr), 6 Gideon Scheepers (Hermanus), 5 Clint Afrika (Hopefield), 4 Morné Coetzer (HTS Drostdy), 3 Linrique Mason (Porterville), 2 Liam van der Westhuizen (Worcester Gimnasium), 1 Amaan Adendorff (Worcester Gimnasium). Replacements: 16 Jean-Pierre Lotriet (HTS Drostdy), 17 Stefan le Roux (HTS Drostdy), 18 Joshua Swarts (Charlie Hofmeyr), 19 Heinrich Redelinghuys (Porterville), 20 Werno Ramsauer (HTS Drostdy), 21 Caleb Cornett (HTS Drostdy), 22 Lorenzo Kroutz (Overberg), 23 West-Lee Uithaler (Langeberg Secondary).

6 HTS Drostdy | 2 Langeberg Secondary | 2 Worcester Gimnasium | 2 Hermanus | 2 Hopefield | 2 Charlie Hofmeyr | 2 Porterville | 1 Weston Secondary | 1 Robertson | 1 Overberg | 1 Bella Vista

Border: 15 Bungqina Nuku (Selborne College), 14 Milani Madida (Dale College), 13 Owam Nqweniso (Port Rex THS), 12 Sbabalwe Magwebu (Queen’s College), 11 Ncuthu Kepe (Queen’s College), 10 Ndimphiwe Songqwaba (Port Rex THS), 9 Ayola Somhlahlo (Queen’s College), 8 Acwenga Saul (Queen’s College), 7 Ebenezer Sarpong (Dale College), 6 Jeffrey Niland (Queen’s College), 5 Luca Liebenberg (Selborne College), 4 Ethan Schoeman (Port Rex THS), 3 Ahlumile Gqwetya (Queen’s College), 2 Bulumko Manqina (Queen’s College), 1 Robert-John Onsunkwo (Selborne College). Replacements: 16 Liam Hansen (Selborne College), 17 Amyoli Ngxongwana (Queen’s College), 18 Zeake Mata (Queen’s College), 19 Hlumelo Gobile (Hudson Park), 20 Dominic Stegmann (Selborne College), 21 Travis Enslin (Selborne College), 22 Njongo Mbanga (Selborne College), 23 Oliver Schmidt (Selborne College).

9 Queen’s College | 8 Selborne College | 3 Port Rex THS | 2 Dale College | 1 Hudson Park

Eastern Province: 15 Meyer Prinsloo (Grey High School), 14 Damien Witbooi (Framesby), 13 Erin Nelson (Graeme College), 12 Ciaran Killian (Grey High School), 11 Lucritia Magau (Graeme College), 10 Will Stevens (St Andrew’s College), 9 Luke Doyle (Graeme College), 8 Pietman Kleinhans (Nico Malan), 7 Josh MacKenzie (Kingswood College), 6 Liyema Katikati (Kingswood College), 5 Ruben van Dijk (Nico Malan), 4 Damian le Roux (Die Brandwag), 3 Ross Atkinson (Grey High School), 2 Zandré van der Mescht (Die Brandwag), 1 Ike Ukekwe (Kingswood College). Replacements: 16 Janu Janse van Rensburg (Nico Malan), 17 Evan Mucka (Grey High School), 18 André van der Merwe (Nico Malan), 19 Neshaun Bester (Andrew Rabie), 20 Likhona Bill (Graeme College), 21 Jaiden Brewis (Framesby), 22 Cole Hilpert (Framesby), 23 Tristan Kemp (Grey High School).

5 Grey High School | 4 Graeme College | 4 Nico Malan | 3 Framesby | 3 Kingswood College | 2 Die Brandwag, Kariega | 1 St Andrew’s College | 1 Andrew Rabie

Free State: 15 Lamla Mgedezi (Grey College), 14 Siyabonga Kenny (Grey College), 13 Ethan Adams (Grey College), 12 O’Ryan Kleyn (Grey College), 11 Eddie Mabena (Grey College), 10 Darius Erwee (Grey College), 9 Sherwin Buys (Grey College), 8 AJ Booysen (Grey College), 7 Alexi Tyropolis (Grey College), 6 Adem Nieuwoudt (Grey College), 5 AJ Meyer (Grey College), 4 Claude Steyn (Grey College), 3 JG Badenhorst (Grey College), 2 Xander Smit (Grey College), 1 David Hayidakis (Grey College). Replacements: 16 Lisakhanya Taba (Burgersdorp), 17 Kwanda Dyonase (Grey College), 18 Marinus Oosthuizen (Grey College), 19 Bukho Mlali (Fichardtpark), 20 Brendon de Wee (Jim Fouché), 21 Toriq Schambreel (Grey College), 22 Unathi Ntuli (Fichardtpark), 23 Esona Marks (Burgersdorp).

18 Grey College | 2 Burgersdorp | 2 Fichardtpark | 1 Jim Fouché

Golden Lions: 15 Ty Ax (Helpmekaar), 14 Aidan Bester (Noordheuwel), 13 Lindelani Nkambule (Jeppe High School for Boys), 12 Ethan Lourens (Helpmekaar), 11 Joel Akilo (Jeppe High School for Boys), 10 Jeandré Uithaler (Noordheuwel), 9 Shaye Lourens (Helpmekaar), 8 Chinedu Amadi (King Edward VII), 7 Eugene de Lange (Helpmekaar), 6 Sam Bruwer (King Edward VII), 5 Kean Lourens (Noordheuwel), 4 Vincent Roberts (Monument), 3 Dylan Engelbrecht (Helpmekaar), 2 Clinton Agu (Noordheuwel), 1 André Poulton (Jeppe High School for Boys). Replacements: 16 Ayanda Funeka (Jeppe High School for Boys), 17 Liam Devenier (Helpmekaar), 18 Nathan van der Merwe (King Edward VII), 19 Zian Smith (Helpmekaar), 20 Armand van Eck (Noordheuwel), 21 Talent Sithole (Jeppe High School for Boys), 22 Phano Letsie (Jeppe High School for Boys), 23 Tidi Moeketsane (Noordheuwel).

7 Helpmekaar | 6 Noordheuwel | 6 Jeppe High School for Boys | 3 King Edward VII | 1 Monument

Griffons: 15 Joze Draghoender (Hentie Cilliers), 14 Donay Williams (Witteberg), 13 JC van Rhyn (Witteberg), 12 Sedwin Gysman (Witteberg), 11 Xander Wiltshire (Hentie Cilliers), 10 Olereko Sebatana (Hentie Cilliers), 9 Davian Pule (Hentie Cilliers), 8 Emile Mahlebele (Welkom Gimnasium), 7 Berto van Niekerk (Voortrekker), 6 Reabetswe Olifant (Hentie Cilliers), 5 Danie Fourie (Hoërskool Trio), 4 Dian Serfontein (Hoërskool Trio), 3 Tumelo Hlakoane (Welkom Gimnasium), 2 Myburgh Jacobs (Hoërskool Trio), 1 Cobus Labuschagne (Witteberg). Replacements: 16 Rico Janse van Vuuren (Witteberg), 17 Ewald Booyens (Welkom Gimnasium), 18 Sibabalwe Bucwa (Hentie Cilliers), 19 Theo van Wyk (Voortrekker), 20 Divan Marais (Witteberg), 21 Edr Wille (Voortrekker), 22 Tyrese Baartman (Hentie Cilliers), 23 Qlin Booyse (Witteberg).

7 Hentie Cilliers | 7 Witteberg | 3 Welkom Gimnasium | 3 Voortrekker | 3 Hoërskool Trio

Griqualand West: 15 Clinton Brits (Diamantveld), 14 Themba Kella (Hoërskool Upington), 13 PJ Smit (Duineveld), 12 Jonathan Harding (Diamantveld), 11 Caylib Stevens (Noord-Kaap), 10 Aidan Gadeija (Prieska), 9 Ruben van der Linde (Diamantveld), 8 Enrique Boshoff (Diamantveld), 7 Stefan Strauss (Hoërskool Upington), 6 Tiaan Serfontein (Hoërskool Upington), 5 Zuan Rautenbach (Diamantveld), 4 MG van Greuning (Diamantveld), 3 Dian Ellis (Diamantveld), 2 Jaydrian Jacobs (Diamantveld), 1 Manqoba Hinana (Hoërskool Upington). Replacements: 16 Jade Coetzee (Hoërskool Upington), 17 Letlolo Assegaai (Kalahari), 18 Pako Kopeledi (Kalahari), 19 Jacobus Wessels (Hoërskool Upington), 20 Jayden de Klerk (Diamantveld), 21 Yibonge Mapi (Curro Kathu), 22 Vinchenzo Davids (Diamantveld), 23 Ezlin Swartz (Diamantveld).

11 Diamantveld | 6 Hoërskool Upington | 2 Kalahari | 1 Prieska | 1 Curo Kathu | 1 Noord-Kaap | 1 Duineveld

Leopards: 15 Ayden Willemse (Rustenburg), 14 Bradley Snyers (Rustenburg), 13 Jordan Radebe (Vryburg), 12 Winton Abrahams (Klerksdorp), 11 Elzino Schalkwyk (Klerksdorp), 10 Eduard Dreyer (Wesvalia), 9 Rea Motsusi (Lichtenburg), 8 Dirk Huisamen (Rustenburg), 7 Tiaan Koen (Klerksdorp), 6 KG Legodi (Lichtenburg), 5 George Bingudzu (Lichtenburg), 4 Aiden Jonker (Vryburg), 3 Matthew Redelinghuys (Potchefstroom Gimnasium), 2 Juan van Rhyn (Lichtenburg), 1 Ulrich du Preez (Wesvalia). Replacements: 16 Xavier Steenkamp (Rustenburg), 17 Thabang Machubene (Bergsig Akademie), 18 De Waal Coetzer (Potchefstroom Volkskool), 19 Jamie Davids (Vryburg), 20 Franco Dumond (Wesvalia), 21 Barry Niemand (Wesvalia), 22 Oratile Sekoto (Lichtenburg), 23 Brendan Mathyse (Klerksdorp).

5 Hoërskool Lichtenburg | 4 Hoërskool Rustenburg | 4 Wesvalia | 4 Hoërskool Klerksdorp | 3 Hoërskool Vryburg | 1 Potchefstroom Gimnasium | 1 Potchefstroom Volkskool | 1 Bergsig Akademie

Limpopo Blue Bulls: 15 Ryno Mienie (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 14 Phenyo Pula (Ben Vorster), 13 Gehan Hendricks (Ben Vorster), 12 Siya Mahlangu (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 11 Fortune Sehlabane (HTS Tom Naudé), 10 Maritz Meintjies (Merensky), 9 Celliers van der Merwe (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 8 Tumi Ramohlale (Ben Vorster), 7 Juan Janse van Vuuren (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 6 Andru de Beer (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 5 Ludke Pienaar (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 4 Puki Mpiti (Merensky), 3 Stephan Janse van Vuuren (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 2 Ziahn Lombaard (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 1 Krissie Swanepoel (Hoërskool Pietersburg). Replacements: 16 Ruben Pohl (Ben Vorster), 17 Thabang Nkuna (Ben Vorster), 18 Rhandzu Malatji (Ellisras), 19 FC Smith (Hoërskool Pietersburg), 20 Funi Simba (Ellisras), 21 Anzio Swartbooi (Ellisras), 22 Lebogang Aphane (HTS Tom Naudé), 23 Tshenollo Nkwana (HTS Tom Naudé).

10 Hoërskool Pietersburg | 5 Ben Vorster | 3 HTS Tom Naudé | 3 Ellisras | 2 Merensky

Pumas: 15 Katlego Baloyi (Hoërskool Middelburg), 14 Kefilwe Phamotse (Hoërskool Middelburg), 13 Jacques Greyling (Hoërskool Middelburg), 12 Rian Botha (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 11 Tinyiko Silubane (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 10 Matthew Abbey (Hoërskool Middelburg), 9 Liam Pringle (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 8 Vaughn van Zyl (Hoërskool Nelspruit – captain), 7 Franko Rossouw (Secunda), 6 CW Hanekom (Hoërskool Middelburg), 5 Janco Aucamp (HTS Middelburg), 4 Ethan Kock (HTS Middelburg), 3 Gert Cloete (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 2 Roux Grobler (Hoërskool Middelburg), 1 Lindani Ndlela (Hoërskool Nelspruit). Replacements: 16 D’Angelo Roberts (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 17 Mpho Mushadu (Curro Nelspruit), 18 Sillindokuhle Tshabalala (Rob Ferreira), 19 Sifiso Hlungwane (Secunda), 20 Khensani Buthelezi (Hoërskool Nelspruit), 21 Beast Nkgadima (Hoërskool Middelburg), 22 Lungelo Maseko (Hoërskool Middelburg), 23 Siyanda Dennison (Ligbron Akademie).

8 Hoërskool Middelburg | 8 Hoërskool Nelspruit | 2 HTS Middelburg | 2 Secunda | 1 Curro Nelspruit | 1 Ligbron Akademie | 1 Rob Ferreira

Sharks: 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Westville Boys’ High), 14 Rourke O’Sullivan (Michaelhouse), 13 William Ridl (Michaelhouse), 12 Sean McGough (Westville Boys’ High), 11 Jadrian Afrikaner (Westville Boys’ High), 10 Liyema Nela (Hilton College), 9 Zander Vorster (Hilton College), 8 Jaime Wimble (Northwood), 7 Mumbere Vyambwera (Maritzburg College), 6 Cheril Cherayi (Maritzburg College), 5 Lian Terblanche (Northwood), 4 Chad Howe (Northwood), 3 Bandile Mncwango (Westville Boys’ High), 2 Josh Grant (Hilton College), 1 Sphephelo Ntshangase (Northwood). Replacements: 16 Okuhle Mbanjwa (DHS), 17 Indiphile Mlotshwa (Maritzburg College), 18 Alande Ngubane (Maritzburg College), 19 Lwandile Mlaba (Westville Boys’ High), 20 Zander Muller (Hilton College), 21 Liam Simpkins (Westville Boys’ High), 22 Nathan Aneke (Durban High School), 23 Jade-Will Koopman (Westville Boys’ High).

7 Westville Boys’ High | 4 Hilton College | 4 Maritzburg College | 4 Northwood | 2 Durban High School | 2 Michaelhouse 

South Western Districts: 15 Reinhardt Viljoen (Oakdale Landbou), 14 Lee-Winn Pretorius (Oakdale Landbou), 13 Reshaan Damons (Outeniqua), 12 Christiaan Vorster (Oakdale Landbou), 11 Devino Bernardo (Outeniqua), 10 Virgil Pockpas (Outeniqua), 9 Jandrian Goosen (Oakdale Landbou), 8 Jacobus de Villiers (Oakdale Landbou), 7 Liam Lightley (Oakdale Landbou), 6 Jannes Snyman (Oakdale Landbou), 5 Ruan Swart (Oakdale Landbou), 4 Diaan Augustyn (Oakdale Landbou), 3 Matthew Prins (Oakdale Landbou), 2 Keenan Myners (Outeniqua), 1 Kai Pratt (Oakdale Landbou). Replacements: 16 Sine Madlenkomo (Oakdale Landbou), 17 Rezandre Gelderbloem (Sao Bras), 18 Francois le Roux (Oakdale Landbou), 19 Chrizano Botha (Sao Bras), 20 Ethan Schoeman (Langenhoven Gimnasium), 21 Tyrese Plaatjies (Oakdale Landbou), 22 Anrich Scheffer (Oakdale Landbou), 23 Jade Petersen (Outeniqua).

14 Oakdale Landbou | 6 Outeniqua | 2 Sao Bras | 1 Langenhoven Gimnasium 

Valke: 15 Deshean Pietersen (EG Jansen), 14 Dihan Crause (Transvalia), 13 Tshepo Molakeng (Transvalia), 12 Christopher Combrinck (EG Jansen), 11 Otlotleng Zulu (EG Jansen), 10 Juan van Aswegen (EG Jansen), 9 Yani Mokiri (Hugenote), 8 Alec Mohlala (Jeugland), 7 Daniel Kazambo (Transvalia), 6 Slade Mowbray (EG Jansen), 5 Kyle Maartens (Transvalia), 4 Jacques van Tonder (EG Jansen), 3 Elshaan Duminy EG Jansen), 2 Marco Ventura (EG Jansen), 1 Khumo Maimane (Jeugland). Replacements: 16 Lesego Moitse (Jeugland), 17 Ruan Rossouw (EG Jansen), 18 Deveraux Weideman (EG Jansen), 19 Daniel Wawina (Jeugland), 20 Juandré Pretorius (Heidelberg Volkskool), 21 Tumi Moloi (Transvalia), 22 Wian Riekert (Kempton Park), 23 Joshua van Rensburg (Hoërskool Alberton.

10 EG Jansen | 5 Transvalia | 4 Jeugland | 1 Kempton Park | 1 Hugenote, Springs | 1 Heidelberg Volkskool | 1 Hoërskool Alberton

Western Province: 15 Jadon Ocks (Boland Landbou), 14 Jeneal Davids (Paarl Boys’ High), 13 Randall-John Davids (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 12 Markus Muller (Paarl Gimnasium), 11 Albert Lourens (Wynberg Boys’ High), 10 Ethan van Biljon (Stellenberg), 9 Jayden Brits (Boland Landbou), 8 Quintin Potgieter (Paarl Gimnasium), 7 Joshua Neill (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 6 Briint Davids (Milnerton), 5 Jayden Joubert (Paarl Boys’ High), 4 Jaythen Orange (Wynberg Boys’ High), 3 Juan van der Merwe (Paarl Boys’ High), 2 Altus Rabie (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 1 Jordan Jooste (Paarl Boys’ High). Replacements: 16 Ismaeel Conrad (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 17 Bulela Mbala (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 18 Matthew van der Merwe (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 19 Juvan Burden (Stellenberg), 20 Gert Kemp (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 21 Morné Noble (Wynberg Boys’ High), 22 Achmat Berhardien (Wynberg Boys’ High), 23 Cole Moultrie (Paarl Boys’ High).

5 Paarl Boys’ High | 5 Rondebosch Boys’ High | 4 Wynberg Boys’ High | 2 Boland Landbou | 2 Paarl Gimnasium | 2 Stellenberg | 2 Paul Roos Gimnasium | 1 Milnerton

Western Province XV: 15 Mark Grindlay (Paarl Boys’ High), 14 Jason Ocks (Boland Landbou), 13 Tristan Joubert (Paarl Boys’ High), 12 Iwan Jordaan (Paarl Boys’ High), 11 Kunene Gadu (Wynberg Boys’ High), 10 Leighton Brinkhuis (Paarl Boys’ High), 9 Mickyle Booise (Paarl Gimnasium), 8 Steph van der Merwe (Paarl Boys’ High – captain), 7 Tjeripo Karuhumba (Wynberg Boys’ High), 6 8 Siphesihle Mbungendlu (SACS), 5 Migael Turner (Paarl Gimnasium), 4 Gershom Pieters (Paarl Boys’ High), 3 Bernard du Toit (Paarl Boys’ High), 2 Tommy Muller (Paarl Boys’ High), 1 Pieta Cilliers (Paarl Gimnasium). Replacements: 16 Noah Gila (Wynberg Boys’ High), 17 Chadley Davids (Milnerton), 18 Lisekhonikamva Zola (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 19 Bernhardt Schulze (Paarl Gimnasium), 20 Caleb Koeberg (Paul Roos Gimnasium), 21 Liam de Villiers (Paarl Boys’ High), 22 Shellvon Mabooi (Rondebosch Boys’ High), 23 David Kadima (Rondebosch Boys’ High).

9 Paarl Boys’ High | 4 Paarl Gimnasium | 3 Wynberg Boys’ High | 3 Rondebosch Boys’ High | 1 Boland Landbou | 1 SACS | 1 Paul Roos Gimnasium | 1 Milnerton

Mpumalanga‘s u18 boys’ team secured promoted to the A-Section of the SASHOC National Week after a dominant run in the 2025 B-Section competition, which brought them six wins from seven matches.

Coach Brightly Mashaba‘s charges excelled at both ends of the park, scoring an impressive 28 goals while conceding only six.

They wrapped up their impressive campaign with a commanding 4-0 win over Eastern Gauteng in the B-Section final, in Pietermaritzburg, on Saturday.

Their sole loss came in a tight group stage clash, which Northern Free State edged 1-0, but they bounced back in style and won five games on the trot to claim the title.

After his team had won the final and secured promotion with that win, Mashaba shared: “I feel a lot of emotions. It’s a long process and a lot of structures that one has had to get right, and one has had to put in place to allow this, because, obviously, you don’t want to go up and come back down.

“So, the idea is that we are able to sustain this. It is not a one-hit-wonder type of situation,” he told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“I think every province has challenges, but our challenges are very unique because the distance from one point of the province to another can reach up to 480 km. But we have put things in place to allow us to keep that growth, to keep that development going.

“I’m hoping that we can take this for our province, and it ignites something for us. That, ultimately, is the goal.”

Mashaba said preparing for the SASHOC National Week had been challenging, with players juggling school and exam commitments.

“I think this year, we understood what needed to happen, and a lot of sacrifices needed to take place,” he explained. “There was a situation where we were like: it’s either you’re going to buy into the programme, or you’re not going. We had to take that route, and we did well.”

The challenges that lie ahead in the A-Section in 2026 will be a lot tougher, but Mashaba already has a clear sense of what it will take to remain for Mpumalanga to be competitive.

“As a province, we’ve got to understand that there’s a process. We’ve got to understand that from the age of u14, we’ve got to produce guys. We’ve got to work hard in developing those guys. The u16s have got to pull through because, ultimately, that’s our product.

“So, a lot of vision and dedication has to go to u14, u15, and u16, ultimately with the hope of u18 being a top product.”

Mashaba said Mpumalanga’s B-Section-winning squad was built from schools ranging across the province. “We’ve got three regions in Mpumalanga: Gert Sibande, Ehlanzeni, and Nkangala,” he explained. “We’ve got six [schools] from Nkangala region, two from Gert Sibande, and four from the Ehlanzeni region.

“We’ve tried to get many schools involved, because the better the league is, the better we become. That is our appeal from the top to the schools: get better, invest more, and we will become better.”

Mashaba said one of the benefits of earning promotion to the A-Section will be the improved ability of Mpumalanga to retain the top talent the province has worked so hard to develop.

“We’ve been working on this – I, personally, and our management group – for probably about 12 years. That’s how long this has been.

“There has been a lot of money spent, and a lot of people who have come through the process. So, what this does for an u14 Mpumalanga player, an u13 Mpumalanga player, is [make them understand]: “Now I can stay in the province because now there is a future. There’s an A Section’.

“That has always been our problem. We lose a lot of players. We develop them and then they go away, which is not a bad thing because it shows we are doing something good. But now, it allows us to retain the talent, to develop it even more, the Mpumalanga way, with that Mpumalanga DNA.”

Mpumalanga SASHOC National Week B-Section Results

Pool Y

Mpumalanga 7-1 Limpopo
Mpumalanga 0-1 Northern Free State
Mpumalanga 4-2 Northern Gauteng B
Mpumalanga 5-0 Northern Cape
Mpumalanga 7-2 Southern Free State B

Semi-finals

Mpumalanga 1-0 Border A

Final

Mpumalanga 4-0 Eastern Gauteng

SA U20 flyhalf Vusi Moyo praised the contribution and hard work of the non-playing squad members after the Junior Springboks secured a well-deserved 32-22 victory in their World Rugby U20 Championship pool clash over defending champions England in Rovigo on Friday evening.

South Africa trailed 22-19 at the break after a slow start to the match, which saw England quickly take a 14-0 lead.

However, two vital penalty goals by Moyo – one from almost 60m out – and a brilliant solo try by SA U20 vice-captain and scrumhalf Haashim Pead not only wiped out the deficit but also swung the momentum firmly in favour of the Junior Boks.

With the victory, the South Africans became the first team to book their spot in the semi-finals, with one pool round to go.

Moyo, the top points’ scorer in the tournament so far, credited the non-playing squad members: “They prepared us well during the week by putting pressure on us, so when we got into those moments, we knew what to do.

The SA flyhalf, who has scored 26 points in the first two games, said that even though they made a slow start and were behind early on, they always had belief: “We are a big detail-driven side, and we don’t focus on other stuff; we just concentrate on what we have to do.”

Moyo’s combination with Pead has been an important feature of the Junior Boks’ attack so far, alongside his ability to bring their dangerous running backs into play.

Pead is second behind Moyo on the list for most points with 20 from four tries – he scored a brace in each match so far, which is also the most five-pointers after two rounds of action.

Apart from his two penalty goals against England, Moyo succeeded with three conversions, adding to the seven he slotted in the previous game against Australia.

Meanwhile, the Junior Boks are enjoying a deserved rest day on Saturday before resuming training on Sunday for Wednesday’s last Pool A game against Scotland in Calvisano.

The SA U20s’ win means they lead Pool A on 10 points, five more than England and Australia, who face each other in the final pool round.

In Pool B, France and Argentina both sit on 10 points each, while New Zealand top Pool C on nine points. The three pool winners and the best of the second-placed teams will go through to the semi-finals.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

The South African Schools Hockey Association (SASHOC) on Saturday named star-studded SA u18 A and B squads after the boys’ final of the SASHOC National Week, in Pietermaritzburg.

Last year’s champions, Western Province A, dominated the boys’ A-section and claimed their fifth straight title after defeating Southern Gauteng A 2-1 in the title decider.

The boys from the Western Cape were rewarded for their excellence with seven players being included in the u18A side.

To no one’s surprise, Litha Kraai finished the week as the top goal scorer with 12 goals and also scooped up the Player of the Tournament accolade.

He was named in the team alongside his Western Province teammates, Zachary Gibbon and Joe Gitlin, and his SACS teammates Aidan Hughes, captain Jo le Roux, Maseko Mohlodi, and Reece Theunis.

Only three players from Southern Gauteng A cracked the nod. Zeyad Davids, from Parktown Boys’ High, was a top performer for Southerns throughout the week and was rewarded for his consistent excellence.

The St David’s Marist Inanda duo of goalkeeper Khotso Mabona and midfielder Matteo Stipcevich were also named in the 16-player squad.

Northern Gauteng A, who finished in an impressive third place, had their co-captains, Luken Brunette and Kabo Mulaudzi included, along with goalkeeper Owen McMenamin.

Hilton College’s Reagan Mudau and Jayden Roux, from KZN Inland A, were called up, too, as was Tyrique Cloete, from KZN Coastal A.

Christo Swanepoel is the only representative in the A-team from Boland A, while Neilyandro van Schalkwyk represents Southern Free State A.

The team will assemble at Kearsney College for a high-performance camp from 9-12 October.

The Director of Hockey at Kearsney, Keegan Pearce, has been appointed the SA u18 head coach. He will be assisted by Robin Jones, with Michaelhouse’s Jason Syce taking on the role of manager.

The convenor of selectors in the u18 age group was Igsaan Ajam, assisted by Julian Hykes and Colin Fielding, who was responsible for the goalkeeper selections.

SA u18A

Luken Brunette (Hoërskool Garsfontein, Northern Gauteng A), Tyrique Cloete (Durban High School, KZN Coastal A), Zeyad Davids (Parktown Boys’ High, Southern Gauteng A), Zachary Gibbon (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province A), Joe Gitlin (Reddam House Constantia, Western Province A), Aiden Hughes (SACS, Western Province A), Litha Kraai (SACS, Western Province A), Jo le Roux (SACS, Western Province A), Maseko Mohlodi (SACS, Western Province A), Reece Theunis (SACS, Western Province A), Khotso Mabona (St David’s Marist Inanda, Southern Gauteng A), Owen McMenamin (Pretoria Boys’ High, Northern Gauteng A), Reagan Mudau (Hilton College, KZN Inland A), Kabo Mulaudzi (Pretoria Boys’ High, Northern Gauteng A), Jayden Roux (Hilton College, KZN Inland A), Matteo Stipcevich (St David’s Marist Inanda, Southern Gauteng A), Christo Swanepoel (Paul Roos Gimnasium, Boland A), Neilyandro van Schalkwyk (Grey College, Southern Free State A).

SA u18B 

Milan Bekapi (Langa Hockey Club, Western Province B), Bhavesh Naicker (Durban High School, KZN Coastal A), Aidan Blatch (St Stithians College, Southern Gauteng A), Kiano Broadhurst (Grey High School, Eastern Province A), Robert Burman (Hilton College, KZN Inland A), Ezray Stadt (Jeppe High School for Boys, Southern Gauteng A), Dane Jackson (Maritzburg College, KZN Inland A), Joshua Smith (St Stithians College, Southern Gauteng B), Khanyisa Kraai (Parktown Boys’ High, Southern Gauteng A), Raphael Madzivadondo (Jeppe High School for Boys, Southern Gauteng B), Juan Martin (Jeppe High School for Boys, Southern Gauteng A), Benjamin Simon (King Edward VII, Southern Gauteng A), Sitshaba Siyoyo (Durban High School, KZN Coastal A), Hayden Stellenberg (Stellenberg High School, Western Province B), Aadam Thompson (SACS, Western Province B), Duardt Tollig (Hoërskool Garsfontein, Northern Gauteng A), Callum van Oudtshoorn (Paul Roos Gimnasium, Boland A), Zach Williamson (Clifton College, KZN Coastal A).

Individual awards

Top goalscorer – Litha Kraai (Western Province A)
Best goalkeeper – Khotso Mabona (Southern Gauteng A)
Best defender – Jo le Roux (Western Province A)
Best midfielder – Christo Swanepoel (Boland A)
Best striker – Litha Kraai (Western Province A)
Player of the Tournament – Litha Kraai (Western Province A)

Leah du Plessis, Abigail Holderness, Rebecca Haswell, and Jehan Abrahams were among the 18 players selected by the South African Schools Hockey Association (SASHOC) for the SA u18A High-Performance team, which was announced in Pietermaritzburg, on Saturday, during the closing ceremony of the SASHOC National Week.

The team will convene for a national camp at Waterkloof, in Pretoria, from 9-12 October.

The selection panel – convened by Omarie Pienaar-Geyer, and also including head coach Nolwazi Nkabinde, Tiffany Jones, Thando Ndlovu, and Shaun Laubscher – considered more than a player’s ability in a position. They also assessed each individual’s temperament in different match situations.

“We have a long-term vision for the game and the players we picked,” Ndlovu told SuperSport Schools Plus.

“We want to move away from the traditional style of players (who made the u18 teams). Yes, we want players with skills in their hands, but at the same time, we want stability, consistency, and growth.”

Caprice Bengtson, Jehan Abrahams, and Bianca Rees-Gibbs were selected for the side for a second year in succession and that trio showed growth, rather than regression, at this year’s inter-provincial tournament.

“We are trying to move away from what we had before. In the forward line, we aren’t just looking for players who can be the tippers on the post,” Ndlovu elaborated.

“We want players who can score. We want defenders that can chuck overheads and can also do the outletting. We were looking at links that make the lines and the leads,” she explained.

The panel was looking for utility players, she added – forwards that put as much work into defence as into attack, midfielders who could also be lethal in the circle and help out in defence, and defenders that did not sit back and wait for the opposition to attack.

Few players fulfilled that brief as emphatically as Holderness, Du Plessis, Abrahams, and Haswell over the six days of competition.

Those four were the recipients of individual prizes at the awards ceremony. Holderness, who finished the tournament with nine goals, making her the event’s top goal scorer, was judged to be the Most Valuable Midfielder.

Her Eastern Province A teammate, Haswell, received the Most Valuable Goalkeeper award, and Western Province A’s Abrahams collected the Most Valuable Defender prize.

The big winner, though, was Du Plessis. The Boland A captain was named both the Most Valuable Striker and Player of the Tournament.

Boland, who won the title, was well-represented in the SA u18 squad, with five players – Du Plessis, Jordan Boer, Sarah-Ellen Groenewald, Katherine Sickle, and Emihle Wulana – cracking the nod.

Eastern Province A, with three players, Holderness, Haswell, and Katarina Jardim, had the second-most representatives named, while the two KZN sides, Inland and Coastal, had a combined four players included: Kgabiso Morafo and Jasmin Kelly from Inland, and Bengtson and Nicola Forbes from Coastal.

Abrahams flew the flag for Western Province A, while Amber Fairon, the third-highest individual goal-scorer, was the sole Southern Gauteng A representative named.

Bianca Rees-Gibbs was the only Southern Free State A pick, while Border A had Busiwe Mayekiso selected, Andrea Groenewald was Northern Gauteng‘s only pick, and Bathobile Masuku, from Mpumalanga A, also cracked the nod.

U18A High-Performance Team

Rebecca Haswell (GK, Pearson High, Eastern Province A), Kgabiso Morafo (GK, St Anne’s DSG, KZN Inland), Jehan Abrahams (Wynberg Girls’ High, Western Province A), Caprice Bengtson (Durban Girls’ College, KZN Coastal), Jordan Boer (Parel Vallei, Boland A), Leah du Plessis (Rhenish Girls’ High, Boland A), Amber Fairon (Dainfern College, Southern Gauteng A), Nicola Forbes (St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, KZN Coastal), Sarah-Ellen Groenewald (Rhenish Girls’ High, Boland A), Andrea Groenewald (Hoërskool Garsfontein, Northern Gauteng A), Abigail Holderness (Diocesan School for Girls, Eastern Province A), Katarina Jardim (St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, Eastern Province A), Jasmin Kelly (St Anne’s DSG, KZN Inland), Bathobile Masuku (Middelburg High Schools, Mpumalanga), Busiwe Mayekiso (Hudson Park High, Border A), Bianca Rees-Gibbs (Eunice High School, Southern Free State A), Katherine Sickle (Rhenish Girls’ High, Boland A), Emihle Wulana (Parel Vallei, Boland A).

U18B Team

Cara Bouwer (GK, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria, Northern Gauteng A), Zoë Badenhorst (Hoërskool Menlopark, Northern Gauteng A), Zara Berrisford (Westerford High School, Western Province A), Skylar Bougaard (Parel Vallei, Boland A), Joné de Winnaar (Paarl Gimnasium, Boland A), Hannah Henderson (Herschel Girls School, Western Province A), Keovaan Jansen (Northcliff High School, Southern Gauteng A), Georgia Kambanis (Eunice High School, Southern Free State A), Anjum Kazie (Milnerton High, Western Province B), Halumile Moni (Stirling High, Border A), Khanya Moore (Springfield Convent School, Western Province A), Enyenhle Nzama (GK, Danville Park Girls, KZN Coastal), Elré Oosthuizen (HMS Bloemhof, Boland A), Cale Potgieter (Eunice High School, Southern Free State A), Jenna Shaw (Our Lady of Fatima, KZN Coastal), Amy Ten-Cate (Durbanville High School, Western Province A), Thimna Waka (Table View High, Western Province A), Cassidy Williams (Collegiate Girls’ High, Eastern Province A).

U17 Team

Annika Kloppers (GK, Hoërskool Menlopark, Northern Gauteng B), Peyton Marais (GK, Curro Durbanville, Western Province A), Raffael Abrahams (Steyn City School, Southern Gauteng A), Minke Botha (Paarl Gimnasium, Boland A), Ella Bowyer (St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, KZN Coastal), Jamie da Silva (St Mary’s DSG, Kloof, KZN Coastal), Jemma Ferreira (St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls, Eastern Gauteng), Holly Hofmeyr (St Anne’s DSG, KZN Inland), Timari Jonker (Potchefstroom Gimnasium, North West), Xylia Khoene (Oranje Meisieskool, Southern Free State A), Zezethu Kunene (Maris Stella, KZN Coastal), Chelsey McGregor (St Cyprian’s School, Western Province A), Beracah Mosaka (CBC Mount Edmund, Northern Gauteng A), Amogelang Motlatle (Curro Hazeldean, Northern Gauteng A), Azania Petersen (St Andrew’s School for Girls, Southern Gauteng A), Siphiwe Thwala (Middelburg High School, Mpumalanga), Pippa Viljoen (Rhenish Girls’ High, Boland A), Claire Volschenk (Eunice High School, Southern Free State A).

“Excellence” – That is the word Western Province u18A head coach Jody Erasmus used to describe his side after they successfully defended their SASHOC National Week title in Pietermaritzburg on Saturday.

Province, better known as the Blocks, defeated Southern Gauteng A 2-1 in the final, on the iconic Pape’s AstroTurf, at Maritzburg College.

The boys from the Western Cape put together a clean record, going undefeated and untied in Pool A, securing a maximum of 15 points while scoring a whopping 31 goals in only five matches.

Then, in the semi-finals, on Friday, they met Northern Gauteng A and put five past them, courtesy of a Litha Kraai hat-trick and further goals from Zachary Gibbon and captain Jo le Roux.

Southern Gauteng, meanwhile, brushed off Western Province B 3-1 in their semifinal to set up a repeat of the 2023 final, which was played in Bloemfontein.

Western Province were the hot favourites to win after they outplayed Southerns 5-1 in one of their pool matches.

It was a dogfight early on, with both sides trying to exert pressure on their opposition, but their defensive systems held firm.

After 12 minutes, though, Province opened the scoring through their skipper, Jo le Roux, who converted from a penalty corner opportunity to break the deadlock.

Aidan Blatch had a chance to pull one back for Southerns when he received an inviting ball inside the circle with an open net in front of him, but he fired wide.

It was even stevens for the rest of the half. After the break, though, the tempo of the contest went up a notch.

The battle became increasingly heated, with both sides becoming more aggressive. Discipline cost Southerns, with captain, Ethan Kapanda, and Juan Martin being shown yellow cards within a minute of each other.

Province, however, failed to capitalise on their two-man advantage and it was still only 1-0 as they headed into the final chukka.

They started the last quarter brightly, though, and won a penalty corner. With the game on the line, they turned to their dangerman, Litha Kraai, and he fired a thunderbolt into the back of the Southerns’ goalbox to extend the Western Province lead.

Southerns had issues with their goalkeeper, Khotso Mabona, who went down injured a couple of times, but, at the other end of the turf, they pulled one back through Kapanda, who converted a penalty stroke.

With the gap back to only one goal, Southerns pushed hard to find an equaliser, but Province kept them in check and held on for the win.

The victory was a fifth in succession for Western Province at the SASHOC National Week. They last lost a match at the tournament way back in 2018.

“We are very grateful, firstly, to have the opportunity [to compete for the title] and for the team we have – the players, doctor, staff, and parents,” coach Erasmus told SuperSport Schools Plus after the match.

“We have a special group, and we prided ourselves on our values, and it showed.

“I think it was a tight game for us, but also a very good test. Southern came hard at us, and we enjoyed it.

“Our focus was on defence because that wins championships, and that was the mindset for the boys.”

Erasmus was not involved in the Western Province coaching setup last year and last took charge of a provincial side in 2023. Back then, he was the head coach of the u16A side that won gold in Bloemfontein.

On a personal level, winning the u18 SASHOC National Week title was a massive achievement for him, he admitted.

“This is very big for me. My last experience of u18 was in 2016, before I moved with the u16 boys in 2023.

“It’s a special opportunity, not just for the coaches but for the players. It’s such a big part of a young player’s life, and to be part of that facilitation and development is amazing.

“But it also tests me as a coach. It’s so special to be here and represent Western Province as a coach again.”

Other matches

Northern Gauteng A walked away with the bronze medal after beating Western Province B 2-1 in the third/fourth place play-off match.

Boland A, after reaching the final in 2024, had to settle for sixth place after they went down 2-3 to KZN Coastal A on the final day.

Eastern Province A finished in seventh, above Boland B, while a 4-2 win for KZN Inland A against Southern Free State A secured the hosts ninth place.

KZN Coastal B defeated Southern Gauteng B 2-1 in the relegation match.

Day 6 | Results and scorers

Western Province A 2: Jo le Roux, Litha Kraai. Southern Gauteng A 1: Ethan Kapanda.

Northern Gauteng A 2: Johan Pieterse, Luken Brunette. Western Province B: Jacques van Dyk.

KZN Coastal A 3: Ben Loxton (2), Christopher Abrahams. Boland A 2: Ruben Gouws, Luka Meets.

Eastern Province A 2: Keegan Le Roux (2). Boland B 2: Rikus de Kock, Ryan van der Merwe.

KZN Inland A 4: Gordon Deutscher (3), Lynton Fitz. Southern Free State A 2: Gianni Tyropolis (2).

KZN Coastal B 2-1 Southern Gauteng B

Final Standings

Western Province A
Southern Gauteng A
Northern Gauteng A
Western Province B
KZN Coastal A
Boland A
Eastern Province A
Boland B
KZN Inland A
Southern Free State A
KZN Coastal B
Southern Gauteng B

Leah du Plessis scored a brace in a clinical performance from Boland A, who beat KZN Coastal A 3-0 to lift the Sandra Jordaan Trophy at the SASHOC National Week, in Pietermaritzburg, on Saturday morning.

The victory ended Boland’s long nine-year wait for the inter-provincial trophy.

“It feels amazing to captain a team that came together and did everything to play for each other. I am extremely proud of every member of the team,” Du Plessis, the Boland captain, told SuperSport Schools Plus afterwards.

Apart from her winners’ medal, Du Plessis also picked up two more awards, being named the Player of the Tournament and the Most Valuable Striker. Of the 20 goals scored by Boland during the tournament, she scored eight.

“She marshalled the team well throughout the tournament. She is a good leader on and off the field. I am really proud of her and the rest of the team,” Boland coach, Chris Gerber, said.

Boland’s campaign was almost flawless. They won four of their five group matches to finish second in Pool A.

They opened their challenge with a statement of intent by drubbing a stacked Southern Free State A team 5-0.

That victory pumped up their tyres, but they were deflated by Eastern Province A in their next outing, with coach Geowynne Gamiet guiding his side to a 2-1 win in a clash of title contenders.

Boland recovered strongly, bouncing back with consecutive 3-0 wins over Southern Gauteng B and Northern Gauteng B. Then, in a key clash, they completed their group matches with a 3-1 win over Southern Gauteng A.

They made a meal of their semi-final, squandering a 2-0 lead late in the contest to finish level at 2-2 with their neighbours, Western Province A. However, they had the talented Andrea Fortuin in goal to see them through to the final.

“I knew my job wasn’t done yet and I still had to give it my all for the team because we had worked so hard for this moment and we weren’t going to let them take it away from us,” Fortuin said.

“I just kept reminding myself that I have the Lord with me, and that I back myself and that my team backs me as well, and that not staying calm will make things go not so great.”

In the final, Fortuin was called upon to make a couple of crucial saves. However, most of the time, the defenders in front of her had the game under control. They closed down the spaces and prevented KZN Coastal from playing with freedom in their half.

“The girls did really well. They controlled the game. They knew what they needed to do and managed the game properly,” Gerber said in his assessment of his charges’ performance.

Despite not scoring in the first chukka, Boland spent most of their time in Coastal’s half, threatening the opposition’s goal. Instead of becoming frustrated that they couldn’t find a way through in the first 15 minutes, Boland maintained their focus and their intensity in the second chukka.

Just two minutes before halftime, their efforts were rewarded. Leah du Plessis drew first blood with a short corner conversion.

Then, with just under four minutes remaining in the third chukka, Elré Oosthuizen made it 2-0, finishing off a sharp counterattack after Boland had stifled a KZN Coastal penalty corner.

Du Plessis and her teammates had learnt their lessons from their tightly contested semi-final win over Western Province and, as time wound down, they didn’t allow Coastal back into the game.

A third goal, three minutes into the final chukka, sealed the deal.

“We kept getting better and better as the tournament progressed. The girls showed up when it really mattered,” Gerber said.

Results

Final – Boland A: 3 – Leah du Plessis (2), Elré Oosthuizen. KZN Coastal A: 0.
3 and 4 – Western Province A: 2 – Chelsey McGregor (2). Eastern Province A: 0.
5 and 6 –Northern Gauteng A: 3 – Zoë Badenhorst, Andrea Groenewald, Mia Pretorius. Southern Gauteng A: 1 – Zoë Opaleye.
7 and 8 – KZN Inland A: 1 – Jade Kelly. Southern Free State A: 1 – Atleganag Kgantsi.
9 and 10 –Western Province B: 2 – Tatum Malherbe, Kiara Kommer. Border A: 0.
11 and 12 –Northern Gauteng B: 2 – Lize Wiltz, Phawu Motlohi. Southern Gauteng B: 0.

Over the past two years, no team has dominated the annual Academy Week quite like the Golden Lions.

Follow all the Academy Week action live on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com)

The side from south of the Jukskei River in Gauteng has claimed the title two years in a row, albeit with the benefit of home-ground advantage, as Jeppe High School for Boys hosted both the 2023 and 2024 editions.

This year, the tournament has moved to Hoërskool Middelburg in Mpumalanga, where the Red and Whites will be aiming to complete a hat-trick of titles.

All matches will be played on the B and C fields from 7 to 11 July, promising three days of high-octane rugby. Fixtures will kick off at 09:00 on Monday and Wednesday, and at 08:30 on Friday.

In addition to the change of venue, the Lions’ coaching staff has undergone a complete overhaul. Ryno Luus, who led the team in both 2023 and 2024, has moved to Hoërskool Nelspruit, while former forwards coach Ian Joubert has earned a promotion to the Craven Week coaching staff.

Taking the reins this year is King Edward VII School‘s First XV coach, Marco Engelbrecht, while Jeppe‘s Grady Ngui and Hoërskool Noordheuwel‘s energetic Andrew Lambert take charge of the pack.

The Johannesburg outfit will begin their title defence at 14:30 on Monday, facing off against the Griffons in the main match of the opening day. Earlier in the day, the union’s under-17 side, the Welpies, take on what appears to be a formidable Blue Bulls, led by lock Joshua Fourie and vice-captain, Ronan Bastiaanse, at 11:30.

This comes right after what could be another spectacle between Thristan Maree‘s Free State troops and a dangerous Western Province outfit, featuring the likes of Paarl Boys’ High flyhalf, Francois van der Merwe, and Milnerton’s ever-impressive fullback, Chadlin Sellidon.

Preceding the main clash, another thrilling encounter is expected as Eastern Province and the Sharks go head-to-head at 12:45 on Middies’ B field. On the C field, the Leopards face the Eagles from South Western Districts in the day’s feature match, while the Valke take on neighbouring Namibia in the earlier fixture.

Tournament hosts, the Pumas, led by the Middies’ very own Hencoe Janse van Rensburg (No. 8), will meet a traditionally tough opponent in the Limpopo Blue Bulls from the far north. Boland will get proceedings underway on the B field against Border, while the LSEN XV, comprising standout players from the recent LSEN Week, will look to launch their campaign with a win over Border Country Districts.

Although seen as a tier below the prestigious Craven Week, the Academy Week has traditionally been an interesting launch pad for younger players, mostly those with a point to prove, which, in turn, produces some exhilarating performances throughout the week.

Fixtures – Day 1 – Monday, 07 June: 

B-Field:

09:00 – Boland vs Border
10:15 – Western Province vs Free State
11:30 – Bulls vs Lions XV
12:45 – Eastern Province vs Sharks
14:00 – Opening Ceremony
14:30 – Golden Lions vs Griffons

C-Field: 

09:00 – Border Country Districts vs LSEN XV
10:15 – Pumas vs Limpopo Blue Bulls
11:30 – Griquas vs Zimbabwe
12:45 – Valke vs Namibia
14:00 – Opening Ceremony
14:30 – Leopards vs South Western Districts

The KwaZulu-Natal leg of the 2025 Engen Knockout Challenge wrapped up in thrilling fashion at Kloof High School on Friday, with Durban Ladies etching their name in history by securing a third consecutive title in the girls’ division.

Junior Stars claimed the boys’ title after two days of electrifying football.

The event brought together KwaZulu-Natal’s top u18 boys’ and u20 girls’ teams, who battled it out in a very competitive competition.

In the girls’ division, however, Durban Ladies, once again, went all the way, but they were pushed to their limits in the final by Ezemvelo, sneaking a 5-4 win in a penalty shoot-out.

In the boys’ division, Junior Stars demonstrated grit, tactical discipline and attacking firepower to score a hard-fought 1-0 win over Kusekhaya Academy in the title game.

Tournament ambassador and former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper, Brighton Mhlongo, was on hand throughout the weekend and inspired the players with hands-on support and key insights. His message was clear: “This tournament is more than just a platform. It’s a springboard for the next generation to grow, lead, and dream bigger.”

The 2025 theme, “It’s Your Moment, Future Diski Legends,” echoed across the tournament both on and off the field as emerging stars rose to the occasion and embraced the spotlight.

As the provincial champions, Durban Ladies and Junior Stars will represent KwaZulu-Natal at the Engen Champ of Champs in October 2025, when they go head-to-head with the nation’s other regional champions.

Engen Knockout Individual Awards

Girls

Goalkeeper of the tournament: Nosipho Madikane – Ezemvelo
Defender of the tournament: Luyanda Thabethe – Durban Ladies
Midfielder of the tournament: Okuhle Sithole – Durban Ladies
Top Goalscorer: Asanda Mchunu – Ezemvelo
Striker of the tournament: Noluthando Fenner – Ezemvelo
Coach of the tournament: Melikhana Makhaye – Durban Ladies
Player of the tournament: Okuhle Sithole – Durban Ladies
Fair play team of the tournament: Mpheli All Stars

Boys

Goalkeeper of the tournament: Siphephelo Majozi – KZN Academy
Defender of the tournament: Siphesihle Sikhakhane – Khuzekhanya
Midfielder of the tournament: Andile Ngobese – Amazulu FC
Top Goalscorer: Mtobisi Zondo – Inanda XL
Striker of the tournament: Melokuhle Khoma – Junior Stars
Coach of the tournament: Musawenkosi Ntuli – Junior Stars
Player of the tournament: Melokuhle Khomo – Junior Stars
Fairplay team of the tournament: Kuzekhaya

Referee of the tournament: Sabelo Gumede

The Junior Springboks made a big step to the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals when they beat the defending champions, England, by 32-22 in very hot and humid conditions in Rovigo, Italy on Friday evening.

The SA U20s were down 22-19 at the break, but in a blitz converted that into a 10-point lead early in the second half and then delivered a brilliant defensive display to secure a well-deserved win, which put them in a good position to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

England started like a house on fire and were up 14-0 in the opening 12 minutes, mainly due to poor option taking and defence by their opponents, but South Africa came back with purpose after the first water break in a hot Rovigo.

They slowly but surely started dismantling the defending champions and once they got their running game going, there was no stopping the Junior Boks.

Cheswill Jooste (wing) had a brilliant game on attack and his stepping proved decisive in a win that proved the credentials of Kevin Foote’s side.

England started like a house on fire. Scrumhalf Jonny Weimann scored early after a poor kick chase defence by the SA U20s and when Josh Bellamy converted, they led 7-0 in as many minutes.

That lead jumped to 14-0 soon after when Connor Treacy (flanker) scored from inside pass that opened up the SA defence, with Bellamy hitting the mark again.

At this stage, the team in green and gold were not sharp on attack, forcing passes and dropping balls. The water break came just at the right time and when play resumed, it was a different Junior Bok side.

Jooste scored a brilliant try when he beat numerous defenders to dot down. Vusi Moyo converted after 23 minutes the tide started to turn.

The speedy Jooste was involved in the next try as well, scored by scrumhalf, Haashim Pead. The halfback started the move by going blind, Jooste again rounded his man and from two quick recycles, Pead scored.

The conversion was wide, but after 28 minutes the bad start was a thing of the past. An error in their 22 handed England a gift try after 33 minutes and stopped the good SA momentum, but that was just a fleeting setback.

Gilermo Mentoe (fullback) was put in space by a brilliant Gino Cupido break and pass. Moyo converted from out wide and suddenly scores were level again. From the restart though SA went offside at a ruck, and Ben Coen kicked a penalty goal to put England ahead again going into the break.

The second half belonged to South Africa and the foundation was laid in a brilliant 10-minute spell after the restart.

A Moyo penalty goal drew them level and soon after another three-pointer, this time from 58m out found the target again and suddenly the Junior Boks were ahead for the first time, 48 minutes in.

That lead jumped to 10 points a minute later. Pead caught the England defence napping just outside the SA 22 and set of for a dazzling 78m run to score a try of the year contender.

Moyo converted and suddenly the pressure was on England to play catch-up. They tried their best, but found a hard-hitting, smothering SA defence too much to deal with.

They had some respite when Cupido was yellow 10 minutes from time for a high tackle, but even with an extra player on the field, England could not penetrate the SA defence.

The Junio Boks refused to lose the tackle collisions and even without the ball, dominated the England attacking efforts. Credit to the defending champions, who played till the very last minute, but the SA side just had too much fire in the belly to be denied a crucial win.

Scorers:

Junior Springboks 32 (19) – Tries: Haashim Pead (2), Gilermo Mentoe, Cheswill Jooste. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (3). Penalty goals: Moyo (2).

England 22 (22) – Tries: Jonny Weimann, Connor Treacey, Jack Bracken. Conversions: Benjamin Coen, Josh Bellamy. Penalty goal: Bellamy.